Seeing a child vomiting is a worrying thing for any parent. But it can be especially frightening when they suddenly start vomiting without any apparent cause, such as a fever or a cold. It's normal to think, "What happened to my child?" Don't worry. There are many reasons why a child might be vomiting without a fever. Today, we'll talk about it and what you should do in such a situation.
Stomach Flu/Gastroenteritis
This is not the flu we think of. This is a stomach infection called `Gastroenteritis` in medical terms. This condition is usually caused by a virus like `Rotavirus` or `Norovirus`. But sometimes it can also be caused by bacteria like `E. coli` or `Salmonella`. Sometimes, even if there is a slight fever, vomiting and diarrhea can occur due to these viruses without a fever.
This virus spreads very quickly. Imagine if your child touched another child who had the virus at school or daycare, or if they touched a toy that was contaminated with the virus and put it in their mouth.
Symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus. Vomiting, abdominal pain, and nausea may occur. Most children recover within 1 to 3 days, but symptoms can sometimes last for 7 to 10 days.
Food Allergy
Sometimes vomiting can be a sign that your child is allergic to a certain food. Sometimes vomiting may be the only symptom. However, other symptoms may also occur, such as difficulty breathing, drooling, a persistent cough, a wheezing sound in the chest, or difficulty swallowing .
There are several main types of foods that often cause allergies:
- Peanut
- Tree nuts like cashews and almonds
- Fish
- Shellfish like shrimp and crab
- Eggs
- Cow's milk
- Wheat
- Soy
Especially when a breastfed baby is given cow's milk, soy, or other solid foods for the first time, a rare condition called `Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome` (FPIES) can occur. In this, the baby vomits several times within 2-6 hours of eating. There may also be blood in the stool. If you suspect something like this, see a doctor immediately.
Food Poisoning
Children are more likely to get food poisoning from things like preserved rice, undercooked meat, or food brought in from outside. This is caused by bacteria such as `Salmonella`, `Listeria`, and `E. coli` that are found in food.
Vomiting can begin within a few hours of eating contaminated food. Sometimes it can take a day or two. Vomiting is usually accompanied by watery diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea . Food poisoning may or may not be accompanied by fever.
Head injury (Concussion)
Children are fidgety. It's normal to hit your head while running, jumping, or playing. This happens more often when you're starting to walk. But if a child hits their head, we need to be very careful to see if it's a concussion, a condition like a bruised brain.
Vomiting is a dangerous sign after a head injury. Look for these symptoms along with it:
- Loss of consciousness
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty walking
- Confusion (not understanding what is happening)
- Story twist
- Difficulty waking from sleep
Vomiting and other symptoms may occur 24-72 hours after a head injury.
If your child is vomiting after a head injury, take them to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) without delay.
Other reasons and things to pay attention to
In addition to the main reasons above, vomiting without fever can occur due to several other factors.
Medications
Some medications, especially when taken on an empty stomach, can cause vomiting. Sometimes, even if the dose of medication we give our child is increased, vomiting still occurs. For example, this can occur if the dose of painkillers like `Ibuprofen`, `Paracetamol` (acetaminophen), some asthma medications, and iron tablets is increased.
Most importantly: Do not give your child any medicine that has not been prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that a medicine is causing vomiting, talk to your doctor about it. If you suspect that your child has been given too much medicine, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
Motion Sickness
Some children vomit while traveling long distances in cars or vans, right? The cause of this is `Motion Sickness`. The mismatch between the movement seen by the eyes and the movement felt by the body confuses the messages received by the brain, causing nausea and vomiting. This is often a hereditary phenomenon.
Migraines
Just like us, young children can get migraines. Along with a headache, vomiting is a major symptom of migraine. Along with that, dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound can also be seen.
Stress
Believe me, some children vomit when they've been crying a lot or are scared of something like an exam. If this usually stops after one or two times and there are no other symptoms (stomach ache, diarrhea), it could be due to stress.
| Red Flag Symptoms to Watch Out For | What to do immediately |
|---|---|
| Projectile vomiting, like a breastfed baby throwing up . | See a doctor immediately. This could be a sign of a bowel obstruction. |
| Vomiting after a head injury . | Immediately take to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). |
| Vomiting with blood or green/yellow fluid . | Seek medical advice immediately. |
| Signs of severe dehydration: Not urinating for more than 6-8 hours, crying without tears, dry mouth and lips, and sunken eyes. | Take him to a hospital immediately. |
| Severe stomach pain, so much so that the child cannot stand upright. | See a doctor immediately. |
Take-Home Message
- Don't panic when your baby vomits, stay calm. Your baby will sense your calmness too.
- Vomiting causes the body to lose water (dehydration). Therefore, give fluids (juice, orange juice, water) little by little. Don't give too much at once.
- Let the child rest. Give him some light, easy-to-digest food (rice porridge, bread). Do not give him oily or spicy food.
- If you are unsure of the cause of your vomiting or if you notice any of the warning signs mentioned above, see your family doctor immediately. Do not treat based on guesswork.
- Remember, vomiting is not a disease, but a symptom of an underlying condition. Therefore, it is important to find and treat the underlying cause.
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